Abstract:

Fieldbus is an industrial communication network for controlling and monitoring distributed devices. Fieldbus systems are typically installed in electromagnetically noisy environments and the systems must work continuously without interruptions. The most susceptible part of the system is cabling. Numerous guidelines for installing the cabling are provided by different parties. However, these instructions are frequently overstated for the purpose and ignored by installation engineers.

This thesis evaluates grounding practices of fieldbus cables through measurements. As a result, this work identifies the most effective grounding practices and provides practical guidelines for the installation.

The used measurement arrangement simulates an actual installation where the coupling occurs between two cables. This arrangement enables inspection at multiple frequencies and with different coupling mechanisms, thereby, also making it possible to study the formation of the interference.